360° Coverage: Barbara Walters Sick With Chicken Pox

Barbara Walters Sick With Chicken Pox

Never had it as a kid

She has interviewed kings, queens, actors, singers, presidents, and all manner of other fascinating people. She has traveled the world, marking her place in TV history as one of the most accomplished anchor personalities ... But until last week, she had never been exposed to the chicken pox.

On January 19, she appeared dizzy and tripped over a staircase, causing her to cut her head. She ended up spending several days in a hospital in Washington, DC. She was just recently transferred to a local hospital in New York City.

On The View, where Walters's absence is of course very notable, fellow cohost Whoopi Goldberg confirmed, "Barbara has the chicken pox,. She’d never had it as a child. So now she’s been told to rest, she’s not allowed any visitors."

Golberg added, "And we’re telling you, Barbara, no scratching."

Joy Behard also poked fun, saying, "That’s what you get for interviewing Honey Boo Boo."

While it is sometimes a knee-jerk reaction to make fun of an aging adult for coming down with a case of the quintessential children's disease, it is actually a serious matter. Chicken pox in adults can cause severe complications, and it only gets worse the older the patient is. Walters is 83.

Thankfully, Walters is not reported to be in grave condition, and she is expected to be released from the hospital soon.

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Mark RabyWith more than 10 years as a professional writer, Mark Raby has an undeniable pulse on the latest trends. From the quiet rumors to the breaking news of the day, his eagle eye is always focused on the newest scoop and figuring out how and why the big newsmakers are noteworthy and relevant. He is based in New York City.